Atlanta Hawks: ‘Detroit model’ still a lemon
So if you are trying to be a championship contender, would you rather be GM of the Knicks or the Hawks right about now?
In Atlanta, you have a roster that’s been built on the Detroit model, which is historically flawed because a superstar player has almost always been necessary to win a title. But you do have two All-Stars, an All-Star (if enigmatic) talent, a promising young point guard and a solid veteran point guard.
In New York, you have the opposite problem. The Knicks have two superstar talents and not enough around them. Howard Beck of the New York Times breaks down the dilemma face by the Knicks:
As [Donnie] Walsh noted last week in announcing his decision to step down, “we have the stars” required to be respectable. “They will do what they do, and we’re lucky to have them,” he said. But, he noted, “You need more than that” to contend for championships.
The proof is in the playoffs, where each conference finalist had invaluable supporting players: Joakim Noah and Luol Deng in Chicago, Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha in Oklahoma City, Tyson Chandler and Shawn Marion in Dallas, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller in Miami.
They are not stars, but they are indispensable in a title chase — the players who “fill in the blanks,” as Walsh said — setting hard screens, pouncing on loose balls, hitting timely jumpers, guarding top scorers, challenging shots in the paint. The great teams have such players in abundance. The Knicks have a dearth of them.
Chicago, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Miami also had at least one player named second-team All-NBA or better, like all but five champions and 10 runners-up in the league’s history. Rick Sund suggested the only way to get those kind of players is by picking No. 1 or No. 2 in the draft or spending free agent cash.
I don’t have to remind my blog people of the many ways the Hawks have messed up selecting a future superstar in the draft before Sund got here. Nor do you need to be told that Sund just gave away a pick to Washington because of his mistake in signing Bibby to that deal. And you already know the No. 1 reason the Hawks don’t have the ability to sign a superstar is because Sund gave J.J. the richest contract in the league but didn’t get anywhere close to superstar-level or even usual J.J.-like production. (The deals for Bibby and Marvin didn’t help, either.)
There’s another way in addition trades and free agency, of course. Top 10 players can be acquired in trades, which isn’t easy to do but is not without precedent. Looking back since 1980, there are a handful of such players who joined new teams through trades and helped them win titles: Kareem, Dr. J (who was actually “sold” to the 76ers by the Nets), Tiny Archibald, Moses Malone, Pippen (after the Sonics drafted him No. 5 overall), Barkley (after he became disgruntled in Philly), Penny (after the Warriors drafted him No. 3 overall), Mutombo (sorry to bring it up), J. Kidd, and Kobe (after the Hornets drafted him No. 13 overall).
So if you doubt the Detroit model is a winner, and you are convinced the Hawks need to get a superstar to be real contenders, then hope Sund can somehow get one through a trade. Sund apparently considers the trades for Jamal and Hinrich to be major deals but neither required the Hawks to give up a major piece.
Getting a superstar would require that kind of bold move, which is tricky since Atlanta lacks coveted assets like draft picks and cheap/productive/promising players. Making such a move while also keeping enough help around for the acquired superstar makes it trickier still, as the Knicks are finding out.
Sund has been involved in some major swaps. In 2000 with Detroit, he traded away Grant Hill in his prime to Orlando for Ben Wallace. Eventually Wallace became the kind of elite defender who made the Detroit model work, to the point that he was voted second-team NBA in 2006. And while with Seattle in 2003, Sund traded away Gary Payton, who was just starting his decline from All-NBA, and got Ray Allen, who would make second-team All-NBA in 2005.
Speaking of trades . . . .
Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle reports: “League sources said the Warriors also have discussed [Monta] Ellis, among a variety of other players, in trade talks with Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Orlando and the Lakers.”
It’s always hard to know exactly what to make of “trade talks.” But I can’t think of a reason why the Hawks would be interested in Ellis, who has $33 million and three years left on a deal that includes a player option.
Simmons says the Warriors are looking for defensive help and want a big guard, a swingman and a post presence (and who doesn’t want one of those?). For what it’s worth, J.J. is a big guard who also can be a swingman, and Josh is a good defender who can play the 3, but look at the Golden State roster and tell me if there’s anyone the Hawks need/want?
Notes
- Marvin had outpatient surgery today to alleviate what the team says is an “isolated bulging disk” in his lower back. The Hawks said Marvin is set to begin rehab immediately and is expected to return to full basketball activities in six to weight weeks.
- The Arkansas Times talked to J.J., who says he might consider playing in Europe if there’s a lockout but added:” [I]f you go over there and get hurt, your contract is void.” That’s a lob for my blog people.
- The Hawks are in draft mode. They will start holding workouts for prospects next week but, unfortunately, there will be no media access. A list of prospects hopefully will be forthcoming.
- Teague has two basketball camps next week: June 13-15 at Salem High in Conyers and June 16-18 at Wheeler High in Marietta. Registration info is here.
- Al also has two camps: June 25-26 at Emory and June 28-29 in Lansing, Mich. Registration info is here.
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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488 comments Add your comment
ArtMan
June 9th, 2011
6:39 pm
I would choose Bill Russell over Kareem although either would be a good foundation. Kameen was a bum though and couldn’t hold Al’s jockstrap.
Horford + Sy for Rockets Picks: sg-Travis Leslie, pf-Donatas "Zach Randolph" Motiejunas, Thabeet & Hill
June 9th, 2011
6:47 pm
36minutes 12 minutes
Jeff Teague (16ppg) Kirk Hinrich (5-6ppg)
Joe Johnson (16ppg) Leslie/Shumpert(5-6ppg)
Josh Smith (16ppg) Andre Kirilenko (5-6ppg)*amnestied/marv
….
[#14pick or trade](16ppg,8rpg) Jordan Hill(6ppg,3rpg) =22ppg, 11rpg
[Hasheem or Trade for center with .100+ wins shared/48](8ppg,8rpg) Pachulia (4ppg,4rpg)
97ppg
………………….
2 deep at every position. Scoring from center will not win. Attacking Derrick Rose with Leslie, Teague and JJ=cutting off the snake’s head
While we’re only seven games into the season and those numbers will surely come down to earth, it’s not a stretch to say that the 7-foot Lithuanian has blossomed into one of the best scoring big men in all of European basketball at the tender age of 20, and likely the most skilled power forward/center in the draft. Offensively, it’s getting easier and easier to see where the comparisons with Pau Gasol are coming from.
superiorblogman
June 9th, 2011
6:57 pm
Looking forward to that list of people they are bringing in.
Draft Board:
1 Keith Benson
2 Jeremy Tyler
3 Tyler Honeycutt
4 Jimmy Butler
5 Justin Holiday
6 Gary Flowers
7 Iman Shumpert
8 Travis Leslie
9 Malcolm Lee
10 Shelvin Mack
Draft board for #48 should look like that. Hopefully all these players will be stopping by.
JoJo the Godfather
June 9th, 2011
7:29 pm
If we had an ownership group that would spend, a Marvin Williams-Kirk Hinrich-ZaZa Pachulia for Andre Iguodala-Lou Williams trade, would work for both teams.
Hinrich & Meeks could back up Holiday & Turner. Marvin & Nocioni could back up T. Young at SF. Pachulia joins Brand, Hawes, Speights & the #21 pick in the front court.
Atlanta: Teague, Johnson, Iguodala, Smith & Horford, with L. Williams as the 6th man. Use the MLE on a center, and then veteran minimum deals to Collins & Wilkins, and we’ve got a solid 9-man rotation. Too bad we’d never spend that much money though.
Horford + Sy for Rockets Picks: sg-Travis Leslie, pf-Donatas "Zach Randolph" Motiejunas, Thabeet & Hill
June 9th, 2011
8:15 pm
and Horford played next to a center this postseason the problem was he is too easily guarded by centers and Jason Collins is a dud on offense.
To force a 4 to guard Horford we need a dominant 5 to occupy Noah and Asik. Even when he was faced versus 6′10 4s they stull had length to contest. Horfs skillset has not expanded since he was drafted. What HAS expanded is his Field Goal Attempts ie his flat set shot over small non playoff defenders, for 4 years has dissapeared in the playoffs.
WELP! at least he’s 3rd team NBA
Najeh Davenpoop
June 9th, 2011
8:22 pm
MC do you have any details on what the Hawks may have offered Golden State as they made their “exploratory calls” about Monta Ellis?
Horford + Sy for Rockets Picks: sg-Travis Leslie, pf-Donatas "Zach Randolph" Motiejunas, Thabeet & Hill
June 9th, 2011
8:31 pm
Draft Board:
1a. Travis Leslie – solid Tony Allen build, rare length near Harden-Wade level but not too long
1b. Iman Shumpert – solid Gilbert Arenas, Crawford Hybrid, 222lbs
…….
Jeremy Tyler – young project “potential”
Shelvin Mack – solid guard, upside connected/limited to IQ?
strong guard, with solid, but not spectacular quickness and average explosiveness. Mack would have good size and strength for the point guard position, idk everytime i see a guard I see Chris Paul
////////////
Keith Benson – 217lbs=non post scorer/defender age, no
Tyler Honeycutt – too skinny, no defense
Malcolm Lee – jamal crawford build, project
Horford + Sy for Rockets Picks: sg-Travis Leslie, pf-Donatas "Zach Randolph" Motiejunas, Thabeet & Hill
June 9th, 2011
8:32 pm
was the offer BrokeBack Marvin? i kid i kid
david
June 9th, 2011
8:34 pm
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saveourthrashers/signatures
Their is about 3,000 signatures we need more Tell the nhl not to vote for relocation of the Thrashers
bring back to Atlanta.. It happen in St.Louis in 1983 the NHL voted against their relcation to Saskatawan, Hey look its long shoot but lets make some news I even called all the U.S based teams to say that this is the wrong move for this sport..hey jobs are going to be lost. Lets make this story happen…… lets cause a scrap.. Lets reappear and tell the NHL we are still hear…
FEED UP WITH THE NHL
FROM BOSTON…..
Ken Strickland
June 9th, 2011
8:46 pm
TERRELL-to say the Hawks regressed is a matter of perspective and expectations. Under Woodson we progressed annually during the regular season. However, we struggled to win 7gm 1st rd series the last 2yrs against lower seeded teams.
We were also totally none competitive both yrs in the 2nd rd. Under LDrew, we struggled a lot more than in the past during the regular season, but won handly during the 1st rd against a higher seeded team that dominated us in previous yrs. We were not only competitive during the 2nd rd, we actually had, and failed to seize, an opportunity to advance.
Now if your focus is on regular season rather than playoff results, like it was with Woodson, then the team definitely regressed this season. However, if you share Sund and the ASG’s vision of playoff results being the ultimate measure of progress, rather than the regular seasoin, then we definitely progressed this season. Like I said, it’s all a matter of perspective and expectations.
And let’s not forget the obstacles that had to be faced this yr. The team had to adjust to a HC, new OFF/DEF systems and philosophy. JJ had early injury problems that required surgery, and there was a trade deadline trade that affected the team. There were also periodic adjustments to our starting lineup that had to be dealt with. These adjustments and changes were never even considered during Woodson’s 6yr tenure.
These might seem like minor issues, but they definitely had an impact on a team without a dominant player at any position, especially a team that was very weak at NBA’s most critical position(PG).
Mike is back
June 9th, 2011
8:54 pm
It’s bron bron time folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Word up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yodaddy
June 9th, 2011
8:57 pm
with a Marvin Williams surgery it is IMPOSSIBLE to trade him now
I’d do a Monta Ellis, Radmanovic (just to make the deal work) & Dorell Wright for Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams….in a freaking heartbeat I would……so fast…like a lightning bolt; quicksilver
Monta Ellis…although a volume shooter….plays with something called HEART. Dorell Wright as well.
We would lose the height and strength advantage of Joe Johnson and his ability (real or imagined) to play defense against 2s and 3s.
We would be small at the guard position but scrappy and explosive on offense and defense. And with the way Ellis, Teague and HInrich play….we will never be out of a game
doc
June 9th, 2011
9:05 pm
can the queen do a marvin impersonation again tonight and disappear?
Mike is back
June 9th, 2011
9:09 pm
Ya ya ya Doc.lol
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
9:10 pm
To force a 4 to guard Horford we need a dominant 5 to occupy Noah and Asik. Even when he was “faced versus 6′10 4s they stull had length to contest. Horfs skillset has not expanded since he was drafted. What HAS expanded is his Field Goal Attempts ie his flat set shot over small non playoff defenders, for 4 years has dissapeared in the playoffs.
WELP! at least he’s 3rd team NBA”
Naw he’s ALL NBA!!! Yea whatever…………….
superiorblogman
June 9th, 2011
9:11 pm
Horford + Sy for Rockets Picks: sg-Travis Leslie, pf-Donatas “Zach Randolph” Motiejunas, Thabeet & Hill
You are the most idiotic and annoying poster I have seen around here in a long time
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
9:12 pm
Bosh is misfiring a ton like Marvin does…..
Horford + Sy for Rockets Picks: sg-Travis Leslie, pf-Donatas "Zach Randolph" Motiejunas, Thabeet & Hill
June 9th, 2011
9:13 pm
@Ken Strickland we added Jason Collins they subtracted Gortat from the bench, Lewis from the starting lineup, Pietrus from the bench and Vince Carter from the starting big guard.
And added an injured Gilbert Arenas who may or may not recover.
Orlando regressed and we added a 7 footer. Nobody on our team ended the playoffs shooting above .500.
This roster (the “ORGANIZATION”) puts too much pressure on Josh and Joe to be superstars. They paid Joe like Pau (2nd star) yet failed to recognize Bibby and Marvin were not integral mismatches going forward.
Now we have Smith as our backup four getting easy shots over him by a subpar scorer in Taj Gibson.
Smith cannot score the 20+ points necessary from the SF starter and a backup. Its called lack of depth..
This roster going forward is a transparent loser. You need to determine if Horford will ever learn a fadeaway to shoot over bigs (3s?). At 25 history and his measurables says he wont ever be a dominant scorer.
if hes going to be shooting 3s now then might as well trade him for a competent 3 point shooter a center and a tradeable pick for depth. if Hinrich for a great bench 4 works then u do it and draft Leslie and Shumpert to man the 1 and 2 on the fly.
Johnson/Leslie
Teague/Shumpert
Smith {235 lbs}/ Kirilenko
–
Sanders{233}/Gooden
Bogut/Pachulia
and Smith even at near 250 lbs has significant rebounding advantages over Durant, Carmelo, Pierce, Granger and yes Lebron. If not score against them he crashes the boards better than Marion and Wallace.
caveats
* Teague works hard natural progression over season
* Smith drops 9 lbs. and tones up, stop including him as a stretch 4. If u guys had watched the games u know he rarely posts up bigger players. Against Deng he was crashing, fluid and active in the post.
We need more which means committing to Smith and repackaging him to the referees as a 3. Do this knowing that you have 7 other teams in the playoffs that don’ t want the Hawks to have a large active rebounding lineup.
Sanders adds 10 lbs at the 4. Bogut with Smith and his defense equals an athletic interior passing frontline. Quite honestly he shows a good jump shot and is already an elite defender but he was a negative on offense.
I like the rockets trade better.
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
9:19 pm
Allstar-Tito Jr aint wired to shoot a jumpshot of any kind, turn-around, fade-away,bank shot, stop and pop off the off the dribble…Dream on…………….To late to teach that stuff…
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
9:24 pm
ISO needs some help desperately at the SF!! Josh is not the answer at the 3..The 43 year drought will continue if Josh plays the 3..No ECF visits ever!!!!!!!
brigadierjerry
June 9th, 2011
9:24 pm
slimjr Philly and the Knicks will have better records so expect the Hawk to slip to a 7th seed at best
slimjr. I’d like to put a friendly wager with you that I do not think both Philly and NY will have a better record than the Hawks next year.
1. Keith Benson
2 Jeremy Tyler
3 Tyler Honeycutt
4 Jimmy Butler
5 Justin Holiday
6 Gary Flowers
7 Iman Shumpert
8 Travis Leslie
9 Malcolm Lee
10 Shelvin Mack
superiorblogman,
I like these choices although I think that Schumpert might be gone by the Hawks pick
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
9:29 pm
@brigadierjerry ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I sure hope i am wrong about that prediction, but Larry aint the ONE…
Philly and the Knicks coaching is far superior to our Atlanta Hawks thanks to Ricky slippery slope unfortunately…
SteveW
June 9th, 2011
9:40 pm
I wonder if Chicago makes a run at Jamal or Jason Richardson to fill that hole at the 2 spot for them?
I think if they could snag Jason Richardson, they may win the title next season.
Just send Brewer and Bogans down to the ATL for a couple of 2nd picks if that happens. I like their defense.
The more D on the wings the better for me in this League. Look what Marion and Stevenson are doing on LeBron.
SteveW
June 9th, 2011
9:45 pm
I would take Trey Thompkins, Isaish Thomas, Shelvin Mack, or E’Twaun Moore if they are available. I think all of them could be legit back-ups in the NBA, and that’s all you can ask for picking #48.
Now on the original premise of this article, would I rather be the GM of the Knicks or the Hawks?
At 1st glance, I say the Knicks. But when I look at Amare’s knee, which they say has at most 2 or 3 years left if he is lucky, and Carmelo and Billups hooked up with the wrong Coach for their style of play, I say the Hawks. We have some peices that if properly utilized, I say we can win a Championship with.
And if the Heat win a Championship, what does Sund do with his line that only teams with their major players in their 30’s win championships? LeBron, Bosh, or Wade are not 30 yet.
Mitun
June 9th, 2011
9:46 pm
if I was Hawks, I would do the following
Fire LD and the staff
Fire Sund
get Brian Shaw as Head Coach, I think he would fit for ATL because he won a NBA Title as a player and Assistant coach of the Lakers and that would help us.
hire someone who has won a conference title and lead us to finals.
darrell starks
June 9th, 2011
9:47 pm
Josh must get his weight down 225, he would be awesome at small forward.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!
SteveW
June 9th, 2011
9:49 pm
You know, if Philly gets Kaman, a frontcourt of Kaman, Brand, Hawes, and Speights, with Holiday, Turner, and Lou in the BC ain’t bad. And throw Young in the mix, you have quite a team there.
And Clips may throw in Aminu or somebody as well, you never know.
SteveW
June 9th, 2011
9:53 pm
Championship game a track meet tonite – I wonder who that favors?
darrell starks
June 9th, 2011
9:53 pm
Can the hawks get ellis ?
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!
darrell starks
June 9th, 2011
10:14 pm
Joe has no fire, desire, or leader ship to take the hawks 2 next level, trade joe now if possible.
JOE, MARVIN FOR ELLIS, BEIDRIN
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
10:14 pm
“You know, if Philly gets Kaman, a frontcourt of Kaman, Brand, Hawes, and Speights, with Holiday, Turner, and Lou in the BC ain’t bad. And throw Young in the mix, you have quite a team there.”
Hawks will lose by 30 @home to Philly…..Yawn
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
10:15 pm
Yo Labron, WTF?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
10:20 pm
Labron 4-10????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
I MUS WRITE
June 9th, 2011
10:24 pm
Rashad Lewis is in Lebrons head…….
Najeh Davenpoop
June 9th, 2011
10:27 pm
Those people in the Hawks fan section who hold up the oversized Zaza heads every game should show up with oversized Delonte West and Rashard Lewis heads for every Hawks-Heat game next year.
Grandmaster JeJe
June 9th, 2011
10:29 pm
What ’s peoples’ obsessions with Monta?
He’s tiny, plays no defense, and is not a winner. He has made the playoffs maybe once in his career..
You do realize that before coming to the Hawks, Jamal had NEVER been to the playoffs, and he has been in the league much longer than Ellis.
^So what? Jamal had an awful Chicago series and had an okay Orlando series this year. The GW shot over Jameer covered what was otherwise an awful game. I can’t even remember what he did last year in the playoffs, but I’m sure he sucked in the
LOL @ REGULARS HERE WANTING TO DO JOE FOR MONTA + BIEDRINS
Biedrins is a paragon of toilet tissue. he is soft as hell. Monta is tiny
WE ARE NOT THE PISTONS. THEY WON THE RING AND WENT TO ECF/FINALS A MILLION TIMES. WE CAN’T EVEN GET PAST ROUND 2 (CHICAGO WASN’T EVEN AS GOOD AS MANY PEOPLE [NOT ME] THOUGHT)
FIRE LD
FIRE SUND. YOU ARROGANT MORON
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
10:40 pm
News Flash Mr. logic: The Hemlich Maneuver= Tyrone Lue. Decent player but stays hurt often…..Cant contribute when your hurt. Larry still has issue with Teague so he will more than likely not utilize him properly so we’ll have back court issue again.ISO will have a better year if he stays healthy due to fact that he is by far the most talented all around player on this squad by miles when healthy! Meanwhile All NBA Al will show no improvement offensively and will continue to be unable to protect the rim. Josh will be Josh, up and down.Marvin? Who….? ET AL…. YOU CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH…..The streak will continue. There will be no ECF visit next season…AND???????????? Blah Blah Blah.. Call it what you like………………….. The 200 million dollar question for Sund is whats plan B when you aging guards go down with injuries?? Where will the scoring load come from All NBA AL?? Josh and Marvin?…Don’t hold your breath……….
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
10:48 pm
Mike Bibby, Larrys guy getting flat out killed out there……………………..Wow…
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
10:49 pm
COME ON DWADE!! ROBIN NEEDS BATMAN!!!!!!!!!!!
Felix
June 9th, 2011
10:51 pm
Someone please explain to me why……
…is it that Al Horford *must* be plugged-into some “optmal situation” or “optimal line-up” in order for him to reach this …. (entitled) Hall-of-Fame status… that MANY deluded Hawks fans seem to feel that he deserves?
GREAT PLAYERS *TAKE* this status. They are NOT —– GIVEN IT or “put into some situation” that causes it to occur !!
Does anyone here understand the term TAKE? Or the fact that Al was fully mature when he arrived and not done anything that I described above?
Power and status are NOT things that can be GIVEN or “happened-by” in “optimal situations”.
These things are TAKEN !!!!!
Enough of Al Horford as anything but a damn good role player. That is all he is and all he has the potential to be.
There is no realistic “upside” with Al. MC — you and I completely disagree here. That about the “nuttiest” thing you have EVER written.
No coach in the NBA looses sleep wondering to how to control Al Horford!
It’s got to be a collective effrot or bust for this Hawks team — as it’s presently constructed.
The Hawks need to do (2) two things to win Championships.
1. NEVER put any weak defender on the court — NEVER —regardless of of their offensive prowess. (bye, bye, Jamal Crawford)
2. Have at least 4 guys that can CREATE (not just be set-up ala pick & pop) their own shot when needed.
There’s your Championship team with no “superstar”. They will win year-in and year-out — just like the Pistons.
Bye the way, the Hawks (as pesently constructed) don’t have this. You can’t mix strong and weak and come-up with anything other that mediocre.
Horford + Sy for Rockets Picks: sg-Travis Leslie, pf-Donatas "Zach Randolph" Motiejunas, Thabeet & Hill
June 9th, 2011
10:53 pm
@Ken Strickland we added Jason Collins they subtracted Gortat from the bench, Lewis from the starting lineup, Pietrus from the bench and Vince Carter from the starting big guard.
And added an injured Gilbert Arenas who may or may not ever recover.
Orlando regressed and we added a 7 footer. Nobody on our team ended the playoffs shooting above .500.
This roster (the “ORGANIZATION”) puts too much pressure on Josh and Joe to be superstars. They paid Joe like Pau (2nd star) yet failed to recognize Bibby and Marvin were not integral mismatches going forward.
Now we have Smith as our backup four getting easy shots over him by a subpar scorer in Taj Gibson.
Smith cannot score the 20+ points necessary from the SF starter and a backup. Its called lack of depth..
This roster going forward is a transparent loser. You need to determine if Horford will ever learn a fadeaway to shoot over bigs (3s?). At 25 history and his measurables says he wont ever be a dominant scorer.
if hes going to be shooting 3s now then might as well trade him for a competent 3 point shooter a center and a tradeable pick for depth. if Hinrich for a great bench 4 works then u do it and draft Leslie and Shumpert to man the 1 and 2 on the fly.
Johnson/Leslie
Teague/Shumpert
Smith {235 lbs}/ Kirilenko
–
Sanders{233}/Gooden
Bogut/Pachulia
and Smith even at near 250 lbs has significant rebounding advantages over Durant, Carmelo, Pierce, Granger and yes Lebron. If not score against them he crashes the boards better than Marion and Wallace.
caveats
* Teague works hard natural progression over season
* Smith drops 9 lbs. and tones up, stop including him as a stretch 4. If u guys had watched the games u know he rarely posts up bigger players. Against Deng he was crashing, fluid and active in the post.
We need more which means committing to Smith and repackaging him to the referees as a 3. Do this knowing that you have 7 other teams in the playoffs that don’ t want the Hawks to have a large active rebounding lineup.
Sanders adds 10 lbs at the 4. Bogut with Smith and his defense equals an athletic interior passing frontline. Quite honestly he shows a good jump shot and is already an elite defender but he was a negative on offense.
I like the rockets trade better.
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
10:55 pm
38-43 wins…………..Yawn
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
11:07 pm
Labron, Superstar playing like Josh out there. Nothings workin offensively….Wow…….
For the record Rashad is a rat if he is dipping on Labron piece………..Go catch your own fish dude!!!!! Plenty of lonely fish out there……Have a bountiful catch!!!!!!!!!!!
SteveW
June 9th, 2011
11:09 pm
Now Orlando did add Jason Richardson besides Arenas, to be fair….
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
11:13 pm
Orlando won 55 freakin games.. How many did our under achieving Hawks win again???? Mr Logic….
Naw it doesn’t matter the STREAK WILL CONTINUE!
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
11:38 pm
Pipen spoek to soon I guess?
Labron ZERO points in the 4th again?????????????/
What the heck is going on dude? Kid is lockin you down along with the rotating defenses..
Imagine All NBA Al playing help defense like that???
Dream on………………….
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
11:38 pm
spoke^^^^
drmaryb (*_-)
June 9th, 2011
11:42 pm
Busters & Ballers!
Dallas is ballin’! YEAH! Go Jet Go!
Slimjr
June 9th, 2011
11:48 pm
Back to SOUTH BEACH!!
Najeh Davenpoop
June 9th, 2011
11:50 pm
One more win and LeBron can take his talents on a fishing trip.